This Week's Cases Of Interest 7/7- 7/11/17

This week has been full of surprises, including the shark bite. Here are four cases of interest SCPD responded to in the past few days.

Juvenile in Possession of Loaded Revolver

About 3:35 PM on Friday, July 7, 2017, the SCPD Neighborhood Enforcement Team patrol came upon three teenage males in the wooded area near the 300 block of La Fonda Avenue. As officers approached the trio, the handle of a handgun became visible in one of the subject's front pants pocket. Officers quickly detained all three and conducted a pat frisk, leading to the recovery of a loaded revolver.

The 17-year-old male, from Santa Cruz, was charged with possession of a loaded firearm by a minor, narcotics for sale and being under the influence of a controlled substance. SCPD arrested another 17-year-old in the trio for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct while under the influence of drugs.

Serial Trash Can Arson Suspect Arrested

On Friday 7/7/17, SCPD responded to Pacific Avenue for the fourth reported trash can on fire of the evening. Starting at 10:34 PM, Santa Cruz Fire responded to three trash can fires in the downtown area. When SCFD responded to the 3rd trash can fire on the corner of Pacific Avenue and Walnut Avenue, firefighters saw the flames in the garbage bin at 1300 Pacific Avenue and called SCPD.

Timeline of events:
1st - Soquel/Front Street Garage, reported at 10:34 pm
2nd - Pacific Ave @ Cooper Street, reported at 10:42 pm
3rd- Pacific Ave @ Walnut Avenue, reported at 10:47 pm
4th - 1300 block of Pacific Avenue, seen by SCFD while responding to fire #3

Community members stepped up and gave officers descriptions of the suspect seen causing the fire. From the detailed descriptions, SCPD Officer Cathrein recalled Ryan Dougherty as a possible suspect based on his previous contacts downtown.

Ryan Dougherty, 37 years old from Santa Cruz

Patrol officers immediately began their search and found Mr. Dougherty, 37 years old, from Santa Cruz in the area of Elm Street and Pacific Avenue. A witness also came forward and identified Mr. Dougherty as the suspect for the arson in a garbage can on Pacific Avenue. Officers booked Ryan Dougherty into jail for arson and probation violation.

DUI Solo Vehicle Rollover

On Sunday 7/6/17 at approximately 6:40 PM, SCPD Officers responded to the upper east side for a rollover collision. A dark colored Hyundai drove off Branciforte Drive near Cool Creek Trail.

Jonathan Pintor, 25 years old from Santa Cruz

The driver, Jonathan Pintor, 25 years old, from Santa Cruz skidded off of the shoulder of Branciforte Drive, rolled three times, and down onto Cool Creek Trail. The car came to rest on its roof.

The driver and two passengers crawled out of the front passenger's side window. The passengers stated they were uninjured. After a medical assessment, Mr. Pintor was booked him into jail for DUI and driving with a suspended license for a DUI.

Two Arrested in Assault and Robbery

On Tuesday 7/11/17 at, approximately, 7:00 PM, the entire patrol team responded to Chestnut Street and Neary Lagoon for a robbery and stabbing that just occurred. The victim, a 25-year-old male, reported he was stabbed and robbed by two acquaintances. The suspects Darren Cocroft, 27 years old, and Frederick Stanley, 34 years old, were in the company of the victim.

Frederick Stanley, 34 years old from Santa Cruz

The victim claims Mr. Stanley pulled a dagger and held it to his throat. The suspects threatened to kill him if he did not hand over his money. The suspects then attacked the victim. The victim sustained a cut to his hand deflecting the knife during the struggle. The suspects took $500 cash from the victim and fled.

In quick order Sgt. Crofts found and detained the primary suspect Fred Stanley, who possessed the stolen cash. Through hard driving investigation, the officers found the discarded knife and had a bead on the second suspect. It was only a matter of time before SCPD Officers caught up with him. The suspect, Darren Cocroft, eventually came down to the station.

Darren Cocroft, 27 years old from Santa Cruz

SCPD arrested both Mr. Cocroft and Mr. Stanley for robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and assault with a deadly weapon.

Great Hustle and Good Work SCPD Patrol Team

The Santa Cruz Police Department continues to encourage community members to be partners in public safety. Please continue to contact SCPD when suspicious activity occurs in your neighborhood. Call 9-1-1, Anonymous Tip Line (831) 420-5995 or send us a tip online.

Domestic Violence Suspect Arrested With Loaded Gun

Randy Lewthwaite, 35 years old from Santa Cruz

On Thursday 6/8/17 at approximately 8:40 pm, Santa Cruz Police Department Officers arrested 35-year-old Randy Lewthwaite of Santa Cruz for a domestic violence incident that occurred earlier in the day. The suspect had gotten into a fight with a female victim earlier in his home. The victim, 31 years old, reported that Randy Lewthwaite punched her in the head with brass knuckles. She sustained a bruise on the side of her temple.

The investigating officer received information that the suspect was carrying a loaded firearm. The investigation also revealed a misdemeanor warrant for Mr. Lewthwaite’s  arrest.

The SCPD patrol team on the swing shift were on the lookout for the suspect. A sharp-eyed officer located Mr. Lewthwaite walking on Washburn Avenue.  The patrol team quickly detained him. Santa Cruz Police recovered a .22 caliber handgun hidden in Lewthwaite’s front waistband.

The High Standard Dura-Matic handgun had a .22 caliber hollow-point round in the chamber. The weapon's magazine had ten additional .22 hollow-point rounds in it.

Mr. Lewthwaite was booked into jail for (1) Assault with a deadly weapon, (2) Inflict Injury on Cohabitant, and (3) Carrying a concealed weapon.

Outstanding work by SCPD Patrol Team!

What To Do If You Are a Victim of Domestic Violence
1. Call 911 and report the incident.
2. Go to a safe place such as a domestic violence shelter.
3. If necessary, seek medical attention. Any injuries should be documented and photographed.
4. Find the support of caring people. Tell someone you trust about the abuse.
REMEMBER: You are not alone. Help is available.

Routine Traffic Stop Leads to Loaded Shotgun

On 10/21/15 at about 10:00 pm, Santa Cruz Police Officers conducted a traffic stop of a beige Buick Regal for not stopping at a red traffic signal at the intersection of Mission Street and Laurel Street. 

During the car stop, the SCPD Officer saw a shotgun on the floor board of the front passenger seat, which was in arms reach from the driver seat.

The driver of the Buick was identified as Brian Baires, 18 from Santa Cruz. Baires did not have any identification and he was not the registered owner of the car. .  The shotgun in the car was loaded with 4 rounds of 00 buck and 1 round of 7 ½ birdshot.

Brian Baires was taken into custody and booked for possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

The Santa Cruz Police Department continues to encourage residents to be partners in public safety. We are committed to reducing gang crimes and violence in the City of Santa Cruz. Anyone with information regarding suspicious or criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department.

SCPD Together with Involved Community Stops Crime

Incident #1
Hit & Run Leads to Stolen Loaded Rifle & Credit Cards

On Saturday, 7/11/2015, around 6:00pm, Santa Cruz Police Department responded to the report of a vehicle collision in the area of Delaware St. and Fair St. A red Ford Focus struck the driver side of a white Volvo XC80 and fled the scene.

Although the initial report claimed major injuries occurred, it was determined there were no injured victims at the scene.

While in route, Santa Cruz Police Officers located two of the vehicles described in the collision in the area of California Street at Trescony Street. The investigation showed that the red Ford Focus fled the collision scene.

The driver of the Volvo continued to follow the Ford Focus until both cars stopped in the area of California St and Trescony St. The driver of the red Ford Focus was identified as Gilberto Uribe, 20 years old, a Santa Cruz resident.

 In addition to being the suspect hit and run driver, several witnesses reported that they saw Uribe get out of the car with black backpack and throw it over a nearby fence. Officers on the scene found the backpack with a loaded rifle inside. It was later determined that the rifle was stolen out of Santa Clara County. Mr. Uribe was also found in possession of stolen credit cards from a theft that occurred in Santa Cruz earlier in the day.

Uribe told officers that he fled the collision scene because he believed he was being followed and someone was trying to shoot him.

Mr. Uribe was arrested for several felony charges related to being in possession of a stolen and loaded firearm and violating his probation. His charges also included DUI drugs and hit &run. Uribe also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Case#15S-05986

Incident #2
Alert neighbor calls SCPD to stop burglar.

Over the weekend a proactive neighbor called in to report a suspicious person open and enter an unlocked front door of a home in the 100 block of Sycamore Street.

Suspect burglar Isaias Martinez, 26 years old from Santa Cruz came out the apartment a few minutes later carrying jewelry.

The alert neighbor called 9-1-1 and was able to provide a strong detailed description of the suspect.

Responding officers were quickly on the scene and located Mr. Martinez with multiple items of stolen property in his possession.

Isaias Martinez was arrested for residential burglary. Case#15S-05978

Thanks to an alert citizen watching out for their neighborhood.

Two Less Guns on Santa Cruz Streets

Santa Cruz Police Recover TWO Loaded Guns in Separate Incidents

INCIDENT #1
On Sunday, June 14, 2015, Santa Cruz Police patrol officers stopped a suspicious vehicle in the 400 block of Soquel Avenue. The officers noticed a green Cadillac stopped in the middle of the roadway. The occupants were posturing at a pedestrian who was wearing red and posturing back at the group in the car. After the exchange, the vehicle speed off. After watching this interaction unfold, our officers caught up to the Cadillac and stopped it.

During the car stop our officers discovered drugs and drug paraphernalia inside the car. Looking a little deeper, the officers found a loaded .40 caliber firearm inside a backpack.

The backpack containing the loaded firearm belonged to Oscar Alvarez, age 19 from Santa Cruz. Mr. Alvarez was a passenger in the car, and the backpack was sitting in front of him. Mr. Alvarez has previous contacts with the Santa Cruz Police Department related to gang activity.

Oscar Alvarez was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail for possessing a concealed loaded firearm, conspiracy to commit a crime, and participation in gang activity. Refer to Case #15S-05083.

INCIDENT #2
Around 11:00 am on Friday, June 12, 2015 Santa Cruz Police responded a report at Laurel Street Park of an individual brandishing a gun and shouting gang affiliation challenges at a bystander. The victim was able to provide a detail description of the suspect for the responding officers.

Santa Cruz Police officers found Mr. Anthony Hill and an associate a few blocks away on Center Street and New Street. Mr. Hill and his associate matched the description provided by the victim. Officers stopped the pair at gunpoint.

During the detention, Mr. Hill kept reaching toward his waistband. Officers searched Mr. Hill and found a loaded .32 caliber revolver in his waistband.

Mr. Anthony Hill is 18 years old and from Santa Cruz. Mr. Hill was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail for (1) Possession of a Firearm in a School Zone, (2) Brandishing a Firearm and (3) Participation in a Criminal Street Gang. Refer to Case #15S-05013

Mr. Hill is being investigated for two other incidents from the night prior to this case, where a victim was physically assaulted with a baseball bat and another victim had their tires slashed.

The Santa Cruz Police Department continues to encourage residents to be partners in public safety. We are committed to reducing gang crimes and violence in the City of Santa Cruz. Anyone with information regarding suspicious or criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department.